Parents brawl at children's soccer match

Boy, 15, needed hospital treatment following attack

PARENTS brawled on the pitch and a boy needed hospital treatment after a junior football match erupted in violence.

The mayhem happened during the second half of a match in Burnham, near Slough, between Lambourn FC and Burnham Junior FC Lynx Blues on Sunday afternoon.

Police say there was an altercation and the Lambourn FC victim, aged 15, was attacked by two men.

He suffered bruising to his chest and injuries to his face and leg. He was treated at hospital and has been discharged.

But since then an extraordinary series of allegations have been published on the official website of the Burnham Junior Football Club.

The ‘match report’ makes serious, unsubstantiated claims against Lambourn players, officials and parents, including an assertion that one adult threatened another with a knife in a car park and later intimidated him in a road rage incident.

The report also details alleged acts of violence on the pitch and attributes the blame to the ‘away’ team from Lambourn.

Coach for Lambourn FC under 16s, Simon Sutton, said he was horrified by the match report and added: “We have reported it to the FA [Football Association], who are now investigating. These are wild and untrue allegations of the most serious nature.”

He said the atmosphere at the match was “volatile from the start” and that his young players had been threatened and intimidated.

Mr Sutton went on: “Then around 15 to 20 parents invaded the pitch and, in the ensuing melee, I tried to get all our players to safety.

“Safety is our utmost priority. Our players suffered sustained and outrageous abuse from some Burnham parents. I am currently compiling witness statements for the FA and we would like it to be known that we vehemently deny these disgusting allegations.”

The officer investigating the alleged attack on the Lambourn player, Pc Matt Styles, said: “We would be keen to hear from anyone who was at the match and witnessed the altercation to contact us.”

After 3 aborted attempts, the hearing regarding this incident took place on 2nd August.
The Police investigation had already found the alleged attack on the Lambourn player to be unfounded and dropped the case.
The Berks and Bucks FA investigation found the charges of violent conduct by the BJFC personnel to be unfounded, and dropped the case.
The Berks And Bucks FA found the Lambourn player who reported being assaulted to the police, guilty of violent conduct against BJFC officials. He has received a 4 match ban and a financial penalty. This said person is currently in the Swindon Town FC Academy.
The Lambourn player who violently assaulted the BJFC right-back during the final seconds of the game received a 4 week ban at the time of the incident.
During these investigations, Simon Sutton accused BJFC personnel of racism, cheating, violent play and violent assault on his players. None of these accusations are true.
Will this paper investigate, and publish what really happened?